Electric bell



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

C( B. STERLING.

ELECTRIG BELL.

No. 539,966. Patented May 28, 1895.

Fyf I.

1 ,B 127", v %jj-I; ?by? 3 witnesses: l nventor.

w( %MJ 5% Attorney.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

C. B. STBRLING.

ELEGIR IG BELL.

No. 539, 966. PatentedMay 28, 1895.

Invntor. %426% /fi Attorney.

witnesses:

Y kamus PETERS co.. wmumo.. wAsHNaToN n UNTED VSTATEZS" PATENT OFFI E;

CHARLES B. STERLING, OF NEW` YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO 'THE'DEWEY ELECTRIC SIGNAL COMPANY, 'OF J ERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.

ELECTRIC VBELL.

SPCIFICATI N forrning part of Letters Patent No. 539,966,"dated May 28, 1895.

Application filed March 14, 1895 Serial No. 54L662. (No model.)

To all whom it may ooncr:

\ Be it known that I', CHARLES B. STERLING, 'of New York, in the count'y of New York, in the State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Electric Bells, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear and exact description.

My invention relates to lectric bells or gongs for signaling and other purposes, and particularly for use on electric street cars, and the object of my invention is to provide a device of this nature that will be simple, and durable and that will be thoroughly protected from water and dirt, to which it is often exposed.

To this end myinvention consists in the combination with a coil or solenoid and the bell hammer, of a core for the solenoid, a circuit maker and breaker loosely connected to said core and movable vertically, stationary contacts insulated from each other to eugage the circuit maker, guides for 'the cirouit naker and breaker, and springs to support the circuit maker above the Contacts to keep the cir-r cuit open until the core falls and forces the crcuit maker into contact with the stationary contacts; and my invention consists in certain other combinations of parts hereinafter described and specifically set forth in the claims.

In the drawings hereto annexed, Figure 1` is the front side elevation of the case inclosing the working parts of the bell withpor tions of the gong shown in section. Figu2 is an elevation of the same looking from right to left. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of same, the gong being entirely removed. Fig. 4: is a view similar to Fig. 1 with the front of the case removed to show the working parts in their normal position. Fig. 5 is a view showing the r parts in their raised or operative position; and

Figs. 6 and 7 are sectional views taken, respectively, on lines m' a' and z z of Fig. 5.

Referring specificall y to the drawings, A indicates the bell or gong and B, B' show the case. The case is divided in two parts the junction of said parts extending vertically, on a plane parallel with the front of the case, and midway between the front and back sides thereof. The back part, B, of the case is secured to a support by means of bolts, b, passing through ears, b', extending from` the sides of the part, and the front part, B', is secured to the back part, B, by four bolts, b' passing through 5 5 of allowing the bell hammer, a', to work or move vertically therethrough to strike the gong. This opening, a, is covered by the said gong, which is but a short' distance therefrom. The hammer, a', is a short round spindle some'- what snallerin diameter than the opening, a,

and with a fiange, a", on its lower end which rests upon and covers the vertical bore in the solenoid, (3, secured stationary in the upper part of the case. As will be seen in the drawings, all the inner parts are mounted within and upon the part, B, the part, B', being the cover therefor.

Below the solenoid, C, is a vertically movable circuit maker and breaker. This circuit maker and breaker consists of a wedge 8o shaped piece, c, secured to but insulated from a horizontal plate, d, above it, by a strip of fiber secured between the two parts, a, and d.

The ends of the plate, c, are provided with `narrow extensions, d', d', which are adapted to work in slots or guides D, D. The guides are formed by two narrow,'paral1el projections, e, e, extending from the inner side of the back of the case, and strips, e', e', mounted thereon but separated therefrom at each end go to form the slots in which the extensions, ol', d,' work.

From the center and upper side of the plate, d, extends vertically a spindle f. This spindle enters a bore, f', in the lower end of the 5 core, C', of the solenoid C. The upper end i of the spindle is upset or is provided with .a

- head, g, to engage the plug, y', screwed into the lowerend of the core after the spindle, f,'

is inserted, just before the core reaches its Ico highest point, tobreak the circuit through said coil and allow said core to descend.

By means of this case 6o Below the circuit breaker, 'upon each side of the wedge or contact, c. is a contact, c mounted upon a block, E, of insulating material as fiber, and between which contacts the Wedge, c, lies when in its lowest position to close the circuit through the coil or solenoid C.

The con'tacts, c', c', are angular-shaped an'd somewhat fiexible so 'that good contact will be made between them by the wedge c.

h, hare the supply or leading in wires which are connected to screws, h', h', mounte'd on a block of insulating material within and on the right hand side of the case. From the uppermost screw the circuit leads to and through the coil, C, thence to one of the contacts c', and from the other contact, c', to the lowest screw h'. For the sake of convenience'in'connectingthe coil with `the contact, c', a third 'binding' screw, h",-b'etween the'others,'unites the connectionsfrom the said partsas shown in Fig. 5. Angular springs, iyi, formed 'of sheet; metalare Secured to the ends of 'the block, E, and bear'with-their free ends against the endsj of' the extensions, d', d', in such a mann'er that= when' the'circuitbreaker is drawn'upwardby thecore, to break the circuit,=^and a'bove th'e springs,`7l,' 75,'.the breaker 'will be preventedf from fallingrand again'making the circuit until'the weight of the coreforces the circuitg breakenbelowtheends of the'said-springs'or' 'the 'an-gles therei'n.

The operation is as follows: When'the suppl'ycircuit' is closed by a-key or' push-button,

energized and the core,-C', to be'raised or drawn upward within the solenoid, to force the hammer, a', upwardagainst the gong,A, thus sounding the bell. Just'before the core reaches its highest point the-plu-g,.g', strikes the head, g, of' the spindle,f, causingthe circuit maker with its wedge, c, to be lifted above and 'separate'd from the Contacts, c', c', and also above theran'gles or free ends of the springs, i, t'. The said 'circuit breaker is pre- Vented from `falling and completing the circuit between the Contacts, c', c',before the core dropsto itslowest position by the said springs passing beneath the extensions, d', d', and holding it in its :raised position. When, however, the core falls to its lowest position, it strikes the-plate, d, with such force as to separate the'springs and force the" wedge between the'contacts c', c', to complete the cir- 'cuit,'when 'the above operation isrepeated. `It` the wedge were not prevented from falling and'completing the circuit before the core' fell -to'its lowest position, the core, C','would move but slightly and the strole o u the bell or gong would be very light and indistinct.

I do not desire to be limited to the precise construction shown as it will be obvious that it may be varied without departing from my invention. For instance the hammer, a",

`m`ay"be dispensed with, 'if'the core is made longer sothat it can strike the bell.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination with the bell and the so` lenoid, of a vertically movable core in the solenoid, a circuit maker and breaker loosely 'connectedto the'lower end of said core and also movable Vertically, a stationary contact to engage the circuit maker and breaker, a

guide for the 'circuit maker and breaker to slide in, and electrical connecti'ons between 'the supply conductors and the Contacts, as set ':'forth.

2. The combination with the bell, bell hammer, and solenoid, of a 'core for the solenoid, a circuit maker and breaker loosely connected to said core and movabl'e vertically, 'station- -ary contactsinsul ated from each other to enr' gage the said circuit maker, guides for the circuit maker and breaker, and springs to sup- *port the-circuit maker and breaker in its raised .position, -as 'and for the :purpose described. i

3. The combination with the bell, bell hammer, andsolenoid, 'of a hollow core for the solenoid, a circuit naker and'breaker-having a -spindle extending within the core, means by `which thespindle is engaged by the core, :guides for the circuit maker' and breaker,

springs to support the said maker and breaker,

cand' stationary Contacts insulated from each other, as and fot-;the purpose described.

4:. The combination with the bell, `bell ham- -merand solenoid, of ahollow core separate from the bell hammer,a circuit maker and breaker having a spindle extending within -the core, means by which the spindle is en- 'gaged by the core, guides for the circuit maker and breaker, springs to support the said maker and breaker, and stationary contacts insulated .on the upper end of the' spindle, a stop at the lower end of the core to 'engage the head,

guides forthe circuit maker and breaker,

springs to-support th esaid -maker and breaker 'when in its raised position, and stationary contacts insulated from each other to en gage the 'said maker andbreaker,as set forth.

6. The combination with the bell, bell hammer, and solenoid, ofa hollow core within the -solenoid,a circuitnaker and breaker having a spindle extending within the core,'a head on the -upper'end of' the spindle, a stop at the IOC IIO

' nally within said core, a head on the upper end of said spindle, a stop in the lower end of said core to engage the head, extensions on the circuit make-and breaker, guides for the extensions 'to slide in, angular springs to support the said maker and breaker when in its raised position, fiexible stationary contacts insulated from each other to engage the said maker and breaker and the electric connections, substantially as described and shown.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name. 4

oHAs. B. STERLING. [n s.]

V Witnesses:

C. W. PERKINS, GEO. B. HOLLISTER; 

